Wilbert Clinton Garner Sr

Farmington

Wilbert C. Garner Sr.
May 13, 1921 - March 5, 2017

Wilbert Clinton Garner Sr., 95, of Farmington, went home to be with the Lord Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Farmington. He was born in Grambling, La. to Clint and Kozie Garner.
Wilbert graduated from high school in Grambling, and later entered the U.S. Army, to serve during WW II. After the war, Wilbert attended Grambling College which is now called Grambling State University. While at college, he met a beautiful student, Mamie Ester Labrum, and they were married June 6, 1946. Together they had five children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They were married for 70 beautiful years.
Wilbert received his Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education on May, 1951. He taught school for Lincoln Parish in Louisiana. In 1954, Wilbert was hired by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to teach in New Mexico. He taught school at Shiprock Boarding School on the Navajo Indian Reservation for twenty-five years, and later at Nenahnezed Boarding School for ten years. Wilbert retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in January 1986. Because of his love of teaching students, he became a substitute for Central Consolidated Schools. He stopped teaching in 1993. Wilbert was an active member of the Evening Lions Club, a member of VFW - Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees), and served as a second vice president.
W.C. was a member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Louisiana. After moving to New Mexico, he became a member of the First Baptist Church in Shiprock. Upon moving to Farmington, he became a member of the Ideal Baptist Church.
W.C. was preceded in death by his daughter, Marjorie Garner; parents, Clint and Kozie Garner; brother, Albert Garner; sisters, Helen Garner, Katherine J. Manadier and Glenora Hamlin. He is survived by his loving wife, Mamie; sons, Wilbert C. Garner Jr. (Madeline), Leonard Brenard Garner and Harold Garner; daughters, Willette M. Garner Mills and Valeria M. Garner; brother, Lawrence (Gloria) Garner; grandchildren, Daysha Snow, Darren Garner, Maisha T. (Ken) Hunt, Kalen Edric Mills; great-grandchildren, Phaedra Garner, Jayda Snow, Miya Snow and Laeticia Hunt; a host of nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.
A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 12 at the Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home Chapel, 103 East Ute St., in Farmington. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, March 13 at the First Baptist Church of Farmington, 121 N. Auburn Ave. with Rev. H.R. Fleetwood officiating. W.C. will be laid to rest at the Memory Gardens Cemetery, 6917 E. Main St. in Farmington with full military honors provided by VFW Post #9517 of Shiprock.
W.C.'s care is entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington, 505-325-8688. Those who wish to express their condolences may do so at serenityandcompany.com.